Automobile radiator cap



March 20, 1928.

' J. F. WHITE AUTOMOBILE RADIATOR CAP Filed Feb, 21, 1925 Patented Mar. 20, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN F. WHITE, OF CHICAGQyI Lmnoranssrenoir TO WHITE rnonuc'rs comran'z,

'or'oiricae'o', ILLINOIS; a CORPORATION OE'ILLINOIS.

AUTOMOBILE RADIATOR CAP.

Application filed February 21, 1925. Serial 110.10,?21.

This invention relates to fittings for the filling spout or nipple of automob le radiators. It is concerned with the provisionof a device which is adapted to'function eflectively as a closure for the spout, as an attractive ornamental feature, and asa-means for retaining a temperature indicator or other instrument or decorative device against unauthorized removal or theft.

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of a device having these character istics which may be sold as an accessory for attachment to radiator spouts of the'various sizes and kinds used in different makes of automobiles.

A further object is the provision of a construction which is light and may be manufactured quite economically, as from pressed metal. w p t I Other and further objects of the invention will be pointed, out hereinafter, indicated in the appended claims, or obvious to. one skilled in the art upon an understand ng, of the present disclosure.

For the purposeof thisapplication I have is a sectional elevation taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2 but showingthe lateral.

ornaments in plan view,

Fig. at is a sectional detail on line 4-4; Fig. 3; and I I Fig. 5 is a detail illustrating a fastening means.

The nature of the invention will be most quickly ascertained by consideration immediately of the illustrative embodiment. Referring to the drawing, let it be understood that the reference character T designates the radiator nipple or spout. Adaptedfor connection to such spout is a collar member 11 which may be formed as a die casting with an insert 11 carrying the thread whereby the member is seated on the spout. The collar member has a rear lug 12 and side against the shoulder portion lugsl i, and its. upper. margin forms. a seat for cooperat on with a sealing closure. N This closure includes a cap member 15 which has permanent hinged connection with the lug l2, and 1S- of such-size as to cover andencompass the upper portion ofthe collar member 11 when the closure is in, closed position. 'Preferably'it is formed as a sheet metal stamping with a flat top portion 15 terminating at an annular upstruck heaclli? so as to form an axial seat for an attachment such as illustrated by the temperature indi--' cating device'hLthe stem or post ofwhich passes through an axial aperture in the top portion 15. The cap member also has a depending skirt portion-15 above which-is a shoulder portion 15. -l?ositioned within the cap member; is an annular th-in' blemember, preferably formed as a stamping from sheet metal. This thiinblemeinber has a periph,

eral flange portion 1 6?-whichis adapted to I fit closely against the inner wall of the skirt. portion 15,andterminates'i an inwardly turned riin; 1.6 as best shown in Fig. 5. From the upper 'limitof the peripheral. flange 16?,the thimble member takes an in wardly extending fl'at" form to provide a gasket seat 16, and; fro nthe inner margin of thisfiat portion itextends upwardly as a cylindrical tubular portion 16?. "The, upper margin of the latter is received inthe inside depression OftllQlJGitd 15 anjd the outer por tion of the gasket seat 16? finds support 15? of: the cap member. This places the rim of the skirtporcap portion, which latter-is spun inwardly to form the retaining ledge 15 asbestshowi in Fig. 5. A spring wire catchmember '17" is positioned. iii-the slot between the margin of the thimble' member and the retaining ledge 15 of the cap, and has portions protruding beyond the. inner inargins'of those members,'as illustrated at 17, in Fig. 35 In the location of theseprotruding portions, the collar member'is" provided with grooves or notches forming detent seats with which I tion slightly above the lower limit of the the spring cooperates to hold the closure in closed position upon the collar.

The instrument or ornament M is secured to the closure in any appropriate manner, preferably in such fashion as to prevent its being readily remove-d. Such an arrangement is illustrated in Fig. 2, wherein the nut 18 is used to clamp the device securely in place on its seat 15, while the member 19 is a tapered spring washer which is wedged into the tubular portion 16 by means of the follower nut 20, the peripheral engagement of the washer with the tubular portion 16 being such that the washer can be removed only with a great deal of difiiculty, and

therefore prevents the securing nut 18 being The device is fastened to the radiator spout in such fashion as to prevent its unauthorized removal, by any suitable means,

the form illustrated comprising a headless set screw 25 which is seated in the collar member and arranged for binding engagement with the radiator spout. This headless set screw is tapped axially for reception of the headed screw 26, which latter may be engaged by a screw driver to. set up the screw 25 into efiective engagement with the radiator spout. Any attempt to back the retaining screw off will simply result in the screw 26turning in the headless screw 25 without loosening of the latter.

The lateral lugs 14 carry the movable dis play members 27, whichhave hinged connectionwith said lugs by means of the pintles 28.

The closure is opened simply by swinging it rearwardly on its hinge with sufiicient pressure to cainthe detent members 17? out of the detent seats, and the closing is as easily accomplished by a reversal of that operation. In the manufacture, the necessity for machining or finishing operations is eliminated by forming the parts as above described, while at the same time it is possible, by building the device in this fashion, to utilize materials, such as sheet brass, which will retain a surface finish such as nickle plate effectively and take a good p0lish.

I claim:

1. An automobile radiator cap comprising a connecting collar, a cap of sheet metal hinged thereto, a thimble member assembled sembled within the cap and aifording a gas- 7 ket seat and a housing portion, a display device mounted on the cap with its securing means protected in the housing portion, a

gasket, and a detent means on the cap for cooperation with the collar to retain the gasket in sealing relationship thereto.

1 closure for automobile radiator spouts comprising a connecting collar, a sheet metal cap hinged thereto, a sheet metal thimble assembled in the cap and including a flat gasket seat and a tubular portion for supporting thejseat from the cap, a gasket, and a detent for holding the cap closed-on the collar with the gasket compressed between the same and the gasket seat.

4:. An automobile radiator cap comprising a connecting collar, a hollow cap hinged thereto, a thimble member assembled in the cap, a radiator attachment having a stem extending through the top of said cap and said thimble member, securing means in the thimble member securing said attachment to the cap, a dished locking member positioned in said thimble member covering the securirig means and having its peripheral edge wedged into'said thimble member and a nut threaded on the stem for cooperation with the locking member. 7

5. An'automobile radiator cap comprising a connecting collar, acap hinged thereto,a thimble member assembled'in the cap member, means for retaining said cap in its' closed position, a radiator attachment having a stem extending through the top of said cap and said thimble member, means for securing said attachment to said cap, and a dished locking disk covering said securing means and having its peripheral edge wedged against the wall of said thimble member to hold it against removal therefrom.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

JOHN F. VHITE. 

